NCTDR Transatlantic Symposium and Events Series, Murals and Peacemaking "The Art of Conflict Transformation in the North of Ireland/Northern Ireland"

The National Center for Technology and Dispute Resolution, with partners at UMASS Amherst and in Belfast, offered a Transatlantic Symposium and Events Series at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2009-2010. The first set of events took place March-May, 2009 and included virtual and in-person class visits, panel discussions on the relationship between truth recovery, reconciliation, and public space with renowned academics and artists, and cross community mural painting.

On April 30th, 2009 there were panel presentations on "Conflict Transformation, Narration, and Public Space." Drs. Patricia Lundy (U. of Ulster) and Mark McGovern (Edge Hill U.), experts in truth recovery and transitional justice in post conflict societies, spoke on challenges to reaching shared understandings through state-run and community-designed initiatives; interrogating the dominance of a legal paradigm in current policy and practice for dealing with the past.

In Spring 2010, Muralists Danny Devenny, former Irish Republican Army (IRA) prisoner, and Mark Ervine, son of David Ervine, former Progressive Unionist Party leader and Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) member both of Belfast in the north of Ireland/Northern Ireland will work with UMASS community members to create a massive mural for the campus. They will also guest speak in UMASS classes and give a public lecture on their separate careers in mural work during The Troubles as well as explore their recent joint productions as part of reconciliation efforts across communities.

Danny Devenny (left) and Mark Ervine PhotoPermission: Mal McCann

After unveiling their new UMASS mural, Devenny and Ervine will travel to Washington DC to unveil their mural, "Painting from the Same Palette" and return to work with youth to paint a mural in Springfield, Massachusetts.

For more details about the this series please contact Leah Wing (lwing@legal.umass.edu)

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Psychology of Peace and Violence Program
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
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University of Massachusetts Amherst
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